CODE, CSACEFA Collaborate to Tackle #Education Crisis

Etta Michael Bisong

Abuja

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Education advocates under the umbrella of Connected Development (CODE) and Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) have entered a partnership agreement with the aim of addressing the challenges affecting the standard of education in Nigeria.

These problems, according to the group, are expected to be tackled through constant stakeholders’ engagement and optimising their capacities to demand access to education and ensure that it’s available for all.

Chief Executive of CODE, Hamzat Lawal, who gave background of the partnership at a meeting held in Abuja, blamed corruption as one of the major impediments bedevilling the quality of education in the country.

Lawal also pointed at the lack of inclusion of young people that are capable of resolving these challenges and the inability of others to raise advocacy, as some of the problems that must urgently be address to reposition the sector.

“Imagine if these individuals are well equipped with the right advocacy skills to bring change to their communities and the world at large,’’ he said. “These little actions will lead to cumulative efforts that can ensure all children are in school and learning.’’

The enthusiastic rights campaigner disclosed that the group as part of its strategy to tackle this issue is planning to bring stakeholders across the country together in Abuja, so as to improve their knowledge on how to canvass and accelerate measures that guarantee education for every Nigerian.

He added that the programme is also expected to expose youth to global, regional and national best practice in the implementation of initiatives around education advocacy, as well as resolutions that would be submitted to political aspirants and other stakeholders.

National Policy Adviser of CSACEFA, Chioma Osuji, who also spoke during the parley, faulted the attitude of the ruling class for the deplorable state of the education sector as currently experienced across the nation.

Osuji, while lamenting at the absent of concrete plan for the development of education in political party’s manifestoes during campaigns, attributed such ineptitude as being responsible for the low capacity demonstrated by graduates when they newly approach the labour market.

“There is different between knowing the problems of education, and having a strategy to address these problems,’’ she said. ‘’What we are look at is the strategy put in place to achieve that.”

The activist urged Nigerians to continually engage and task politicians for the provision of these basic amenities, particularly as the 2015 general elections approaches.